Inside Maelona's grand mansion, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Maelona herself sat gracefully upon a velvet sofa, her posture perfectly composed as she fixed her eyes on Emperor Kaelen and the two elders accompanying him.
Her gaze drifted briefly to the tall windows, where she caught sight of the other elders gathered outside, shifting with impatience and barely concealed anxiety.
She turned back, her tone sharp and indifferent as she addressed her guests. "Hmm… To what do I owe the honour of having all the elders appear in my home? After causing such a ruckus, no less?" She didn't bother to stand, holding court from her seat, radiating the authority of one who ruled her own domain.
Even Kaelen, Emperor of Zephyra, held less sway here... This was Maelona's house, her territory, and within these walls, her authority was absolute... though, of course, the proper respect for an Emperor was always maintained.
